Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Today I drove past the hills of Pennsylvania, on my way home, through the snow. I wanted to return to Florida. I'll have to wait just a few more weeks for warmer weather. It was only just over a week ago that I got to walk in the sunshine at the Atlantic Center for the Arts.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

It is almost like magic when the fabric comes out of the dye bath, and runs through the wash a few times, and its patterning is revealed by ironing. I'll be taking this with me to Tennessee next month. Any thing left is up for grabs at the Piecemakers Quilters of Elmira Quilt Show late April when I will be there as a vendor.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Today's opening of "Made in New York" at the Schweinfurth Art Center was packed. My work The Easy Life is seen from waaaay across the gallery on the far wall. The show has every kind of medium from silver, to wood, to photography, to bookmaking (printing), and in between. I love the mix.

Friday, March 27, 2015

I've got the fabric that I underpainted with dye all scrunched up and ready to put in a dye bath. But, unless I can scrunch the fabric more, it won't fit. This fabric will go with me to the Shibori Half-Square Triangle Quilt workshop in Tennessee next month.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

From the rest stop in Interstate 90 entering back in New York, I saw these gals. I thought how glad I was to be living in the state that honors Susan B. Anthony as a revered citizen, as well as the state where Liberty calls home.Traveling back from Ohio, just being a bit in need of home.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Taped four segments and a DVD for the Quilting Arts group today. My work was easy --- tiring -- but easy, as long as the behind the scenes crew was on hand, and Susan there to interview me. Kristine Lundblad in the red, Vivika Hansen DeNegre (framing for a shot), and host Susan Brubaker Knapp. Glad to be there!

Monday, March 23, 2015

I've got my shirts picked out for tomorrow's Quilting Arts tapings, but perhaps I can slip into this for the segment on "Ways to Find Design Ideas". Thanks to Nancy from Portland for sharing this paper dress.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

One treat while teaching at the Atlantic Center for the Arts was an early walk on the beach in New Smyrna. This beached jelly fish part reminded me of part of a broken roman column, although I haven't see Roman Forum for forty years.

Friday, March 20, 2015

If I ever won the lottery (which I won't because I don't play) I'd build a studio like this one. It would have great clerestory windows, and a door leading to a deck, surrounded by lush green plants. Till that, I'll take being at the Atlantic Center for the Arts and a class at Focus on Fiber Florida Style.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

On my way to the studio at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in the Focus on Fiber Florida Style class here. How welcoming and invigorating this space is. (And warmly welcoming -- here it is 77 and back home in Rochester, it is 28 at 9:00 at night.)

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

That's the name of the gathering -- Focus on Fiber Florida Style 2015. And this is my classroom, with some pretty snazy quilters who have energy, great wit, and are slashing and burning like there's no tomorrow. But there IS tomorrow, and the next day as well. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Monday, March 16, 2015

You can't enjoy the wrapping with this photo, but suffice to say the core is a noodle, then the quilt, then the wrapping fabric. Ties all over. Then plastic bag, then box and stuffing, a label, and drop off at the FedEx store. Maybe two hours. Can you see why I don't do this often?

Sunday, March 15, 2015

It was time to take down Time of Day at the AXOM gallery. Just in time for me to ship out one of the pieces to the Yeiser Art Center, and bundle a few others for some road trips in the next week. I can feel spring nipping at me to get moving.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

The Bog River, in 2007, gave me this image, which I then used in a montage. That became the sketch for a quilt, which became an auction item at Schweinfurth that year, which was bought by my friend Aafke, and on and on the circle goes. You never know where the road will lead.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Chris Wickert's hand work is exquisite. This quilt was made as a gift, as well as a fund raiser. Names of donor's were sewn on the scalloped binding. Is is all silk, and stunningly beautiful. Not something I would ever make, or attempt, but very admired.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Pat Delaney was in town to speak to our local guild and brought her beautifully quilted works. She wins awards for her quilting, but this one caught me for the drawing she did to extend the printed fabric into the blank space surrounding it. And then boldly quilting with a darker thread. Lovely.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Well, actually, a bend. My "head" you have seen many times. My planter head got beaned by the falling ice and the gutter. So, not much work in the studio -- instead I dug out the ice that had caused the collapse. Can we have some spring?

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Friends stopped in to the Axom Gallery this weekend to see my works on exhibit. I'll be up for one more week, then they are coming down to rest briefly. Some will go off to other exhibits, and some will travel with me for my next "show and tell".

Friday, March 6, 2015

I could have pieced that circle (it is drawn out clearly enough), but instead I used fabric with a circle. Here is a detail of the back freezer paper template. At least I could locate the circle exactly with my pattern.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

I'm fleshing out the pieces for my "In Process" piece, and you can see the sketch at right. Love using my new fabrics, and might just have to make more. Maybe take them with me to Florida for the Focus on Fiber retreat where I'm teaching a three day class. Can't wait to escape this icebox.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Same silkscreen, but with a delicious set of warm tones. I did some inventive pulls using different colors, and also did some direct dying with thickened dye on the remaining side. The fabric had already been hand dyed with a random pink.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Tried two versions of the circle that I need for my next piece. One is wax directly on fabric (left), and the other is wax on the silkscreen, then printed. These circles are about 12" in diameter. Like 'em both.

Monday, March 2, 2015

I was introduced to using soy wax for the silkscreen's resist by Susan Purney Mark's video. I love the idea, as waiting for the thickened dye to dry (for deconstructed screen printing) is forever. With my new birthday skillet, I melt in minutes, and the wax is set before I can get my rubber gloves on make a screen pull.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Blossoms for my birthday week are saying farewell to this cold month, and I'm looking forward to spring. I know that for some of you, flowering plant are a common occurrence. For this time of year, it has to be a gift.